Weed information

Australia is one of the few countries in the world which is generally associated with a single group of plants, namely the eucalypts. The genus Eucalyptus includes almost a third of these occurring in south-eastern Australia in the crescent from the top of Spencer Gulf around to the northern New South Wales border, including Tasmania. Nearly three hundred of the known species and subspecies in the area are included in this volume and each is described and illustrated.

In each description the more important features are emphasized by the use of bolder type, and colour photographs show the tree or mallee and its bark, buds and fruit. The botanical terms used throughout are explained and illustrated in the introduction and defined in the glossary.

 

Field guide to eucalypts Volume 1

Since the first edition which was published in 1983, many new species have been discovered, any many names changed. In addition, the layout of the book has now been completely updated and reorganized consistent with volumes 2 and 3.

 

At the head of each digest a summary shows how the species fits into the overall classification of eucalypts. Keys provide a systematic route to identification: there is a separate key for each of the four States covered by the books, plus the Australian Capital Territory. A wide range of characters is used to distinguish between the species.

Field guide to eucalypts Volume 1: south-eastern Australia is a most valuable and authoritative source of reference for botanists, foresters, field naturalists, and all who are interested in the Australian native flora.

 

Field Guide to Eucalypts Volume 2 third edition

An expanded and completely revised edition including an additional seventy species and extending over 500 pages. Due April 2012.

 

Field Guide to Eucalypts Volume 3

This third volume covers Western Australia north of 26 degrees latitude, the Northern Territory and Queensland. It covers over 300 eucalypt species, including some southern species that have evolved ecotypes to adapt to the northern climate, and also specially adapted new species and groups of species found in tropical areas. Each species, subspecies or variety has a description of botanical features, full colour illustration of the tree or mallee and its bark, buds and fruit, and a distribution map. The distinctive characteristics in each species descriptions are shown in bold type to assist in identification. The botanical terms used throughout are explained and illustrated in the introduction and defined in the glossary. This book is a valuable and authoritative source of reference for botanists, foresters, field naturalists, and all who are interested in the Australian native flora.

 

 

Table of contents Vol. 1

 

Introduction: History of the genus Eucalyptus, Reliability of the characters used in assessing a plant

The eucalypt plant: Size and habit - lignotubers - bark - bark categories - seed, germination and cotyledons - leaf phases - characteristics of individual leaves - oil glands in the leaves - inflorescences - peduncles - pedicels - flower bud numbers - flower bud - flower bud markings, colour and operculum - male flower parts - female flower parts - flowering - fruit - fruit shape - pith

Distribution data

Names of species used in this field guide

The system of classification

Keys for the identification of eucalypts: New South Wales - Australian Capital Territory - Victoria - South Australia - Tasmania

Digest and plates of species (pages 52-339)

Glossary

Bibliography and references

Appendix

Index

 

About the authors

 

Ian Brooker is a world authority on Eucalyptus taxonomy and has discovered and described many new eucalypt species. He has more than thirty years experience as a botanist at the Australian National University, Western Australian Herbarium and CSIRO and has published widely. He is accordingly well qualified to write this comprehensive and authoritative work. Since 1975 he has also studied Eucalyptus taxonomy and forestry in China, Europe, India, Israel, Morocco, New Zealand, North and South America, Russia and South Africa.

 

In 1980-81 he was appointed to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew as the Australian Botanical Liaison Officer. He has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, University of Adelaide and Master of Science from the Australian National University. He has recently retired as Principal Research Scientist with the CSIRO Division of Plant Industry.

 

David Kleinig has become proficient in distinguishing between species of Eucalyptus through his work in the collection of seed. For nearly twenty years he was in the Seed Section of CSIRO Division of Forest Research in Canberra being involved in seed and botanical collections as well as photographic expeditions for several CSIRO publications. David has been associated with Ian in the discovery of new eucalypt species.

 

As a skilled photographer he has contributed the many colour photographs of the species featured in this book. He is now self-employed, living in Canberra, and is involved in the collection and export of native tree seed (largely Eucalyptus and Acacia) for plantation establishments in numerous overseas countries.